I work as a PCA at a ALF, yesterday the daughter of a family member called and was extremely upset, she said that NOONE has washed, dressed, showered, or changed the linens of her father in OVER A MONTH. He is Very HOH and can barly see at all, but he is capable of getting himself dressed, and in AL thats what I was advised to do. We are suppose to let the patient do as much as they can for themselves. As for his shower, we have been low on staffing, and my boss is just finding random PCAs to come in a cover the 7 to 3 shift (i work 3 to 11) Well this random PCA said that he gave this man a shower, signed it in the ADLs, and on our report. I know I gave the man a shower two weeks ago, because the fill in PCA didnt say they did, so I did it when I came in. However, 2 weeks ago, I didnt change his linens, I didnt have time because he is scheduled shower on the 7 to 3 shift. He is a very aggitated patient, might I add, and why I am 'talking' to him I have to scream so he can hear me. I find myself being very short when trying to talk to him, because he cant understand ANYTHING. Also, I went in last night to help him into his PJs, and 'wash' him up, etc, etc. He was already in bed, not in his Pajamas. I tried to get him to change into his pajamas, he got irritated and started yelling at me! I'm not going to FORCE someone who REFUSES. Do you think this could be considered neglect or abuse?? If he blantley refuses to get into his pajamas?
I think the daughter might try to put a hidden camera in the room. Is this legal? We have cameras pretty much everywhere else except in the residents room. It just makes me feel weird knowing someone can see me all the time like picking my wedgie or my nose or something lol.
Thanks for everyones advice!! Im curious, have you guys ever had someone fall and actually stepped out of the way!? Ive had a few residents who have almost fallen but i caught them.. granted they are little 80 pound ladies, havent experinced it with any men or heavier people but i stll dont think id just let them fall.. my instinct would kick in!
I dont think I ever actually saw medical personnel do that.....OH...wait ...if I do think long enough maybe I have!!! Think of this little tidbit.......I FELL OVER A WHEELCHAIR RUNNING OUT OF A PATIENTS ROOM, it was close to the patients room door, I hit the backwheel with my foot, the chair came rolling out in front of me and PLOP WENT THE NURSE!!!!....I fell with the sound of 10 megatons of dynamite. I am not fat, but I am not skinny.....I LAID ON THAT FLOOR THINKING MY KNEE WAS BUSTED before someone actually came!!!! I gotta say, I shook that building and I made a sound when I hit that floor, it took a long time for someone to come...at least I thought it took forever.........what an experience. THEN.....my 2 aides show up, look down at me, and stand there awhile before helping me up, no surprise, no emotion, no "Are you OK" Until moments later. Boy, that was an eye opener.
ps......dont EVER try to catch someone while falling. Take it from a person who has numerous work related injuries because she felt badly and just had to do something to stop it. You have to save yourself otherwise you wont be any good to help anyone. If its really manageable, yes....a trip maybe but an actually in the air falling down to the floor. NO.
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
I work in hospice and am shocked by the number of on call visits i do to those beautifully appointed alf facilities. The visits i am making there are almost always for falls and usually they are the same pt's over and over, pt's who need to have been placed in long term care ages ago: you know the ones--barely able to sit in their wheelchairs, drooling all over the place, you can't understand a single word they say, they can't see or hear, do not follow directions, are a total care, and yet, keep getting up over and over and falling down the minute the med tech turns their head. And, of course, even though the family has been notified and there is no injury except for the ubiquitous skin tear, the hospice nurse has to go out and evaluate, document every boring finding, measure those stupid skin tears, notify the doctor, get an order to treat the skin tear, make a doggone care plan, and write up an incident report. The list goes on and on. Yet, when i even delicately broach the subject that mom/dad really need a higher level of care the family members look at me like i am the grim reaper. They want their relative on hospice but don't want us to help them die with dignity and respect. They just want mom/dad awake at all costs. At least nursing homes have RNs, LVNs, and CNAs, for God's sake, who can actually keep an eye on these folks, or at least give them the meds to subdue them so they aren't getting up and falling all the time. The falls are a lot less frequent in nursing homes. Family members are particularly stubborn--they know their mom/dad is a burden but they still want them to live in a home-like setting but just not in their home. They don't give a whit how much work has to be done by the nurse, etc when dear old mom or dad falls again and again. I'd rather work in a mortuary sometimes. It is so sad to see dementia patients losing all their dignity and family members in denial and contributing to that dignity loss.
I work in hospice and am shocked by the number of on call visits i do to those beautifully appointed alf facilities. The visits i am making there are almost always for falls and usually they are the same pt's over and over, pt's who need to have been placed in long term care ages ago: you know the ones--barely able to sit in their wheelchairs, drooling all over the place, you can't understand a single word they say, they can't see or hear, do not follow directions, are a total care, and yet, keep getting up over and over and falling down the minute the med tech turns their head. And, of course, even though the family has been notified and there is no injury except for the ubiquitous skin tear, the hospice nurse has to go out and evaluate, document every boring finding, measure those stupid skin tears, notify the doctor, get an order to treat the skin tear, make a doggone care plan, and write up an incident report. The list goes on and on. Yet, when i even delicately broach the subject that mom/dad really need a higher level of care the family members look at me like i am the grim reaper. They want their relative on hospice but don't want us to help them die with dignity and respect. They just want mom/dad awake at all costs. At least nursing homes have RNs, LVNs, and CNAs, for God's sake, who can actually keep an eye on these folks, or at least give them the meds to subdue them so they aren't getting up and falling all the time. The falls are a lot less frequent in nursing homes. Family members are particularly stubborn--they know their mom/dad is a burden but they still want them to live in a home-like setting but just not in their home. They don't give a whit how much work has to be done by the nurse, etc when dear old mom or dad falls again and again. I'd rather work in a mortuary sometimes. It is so sad to see dementia patients losing all their dignity and family members in denial and contributing to that dignity loss.
This is the most informing post ever! This needs to be published and handed out to every in-denial family member and nursing director!
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purse
86 Posts
Thanks for everyones advice!! Im curious, have you guys ever had someone fall and actually stepped out of the way!? Ive had a few residents who have almost fallen but i caught them.. granted they are little 80 pound ladies, havent experinced it with any men or heavier people but i stll dont think id just let them fall.. my instinct would kick in!